Senators want safeguards on Hegseth meddling with Ukraine aid in new defense bill [View all]

Source: USA Today

Senators want safeguards on Hegseth meddling with Ukraine aid in new defense bill

Cybele Mayes-Osterman
USA TODAY
July 11, 2025, 4:36 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON − Senators want more funding for Ukraine and safeguards against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meddling with Ukraine aid after the Pentagon temporarily shut down some weapons deliveries to the war-torn country earlier this month.

Senators on the Armed Services Committee want to send $500 million on military aid to Ukraine every year through 2028 – a $200 million increase from years past, according to a summary of their request for the annual defense policy bill released on July 11. Congressional authorization for funding to Ukraine expires this year.

The bill "reaffirms that it is the policy of the United States to assist Ukraine" with its defense against Russia and to "bolster" its military for that purpose.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat on the committee from New Hampshire, said she added language to the bill to prevent "diversion of military equipment obligated for Ukraine after the Pentagon’s misguided decision." The provisions "put guardrails on Secretary Hegseth’s harmful policies...to make sure promised military assistance continues to flow to Ukraine," she said in a statement.

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Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/11/senate-ukraine-funding-hegseth/84613350007/